Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-23
Correspondence.
Lorraine, D. T.,

EDITOR MISUNDERSTANDING that L have
not yet had time to visit the famous
"White Stone battle field" | will send
you a description of it, taken from
another pen:
The battle of White Stone Hills was
fought under strange conditions, and
the history of the event is reported
with incidents of the most fascinating
character 1t occurred between the
year after the New UIm massacar
A good deal of the intervening time
had been given up to the pursuit, trial
and execution of the Indians who had
participated in the Minnesota tragedy.
During the month of August Gen. Sulby
started from Fort Pierre, on the Miss
ouri river, with about two thousand
cavalry under his command. His
mission was to capture a band of
Indians, who were reported to be on
the James or Cheyenne river, North of
the fortysixth parallel, and who had
taken part in the New Ulm massacar.
The troops moved in a Northeasterly
direction and reached what is now the
Western boundry of Dickey county on
the afternoon Of Sept. Sd, 1868 At this
point scouts discovered the indians,
numbering about 5000, encamped in
the plain at the foot Of the mountain,
which bears the monstrous gray stone.
The Sioux were completely surprised,
as they had not supposed there was
soldier within 30 miles of them A few
of the braves went out and talked with
the scouts. The latter told them that
they would be compelled to surrender
to the soldiers, who were behind the
first hills to the West. The Indians
divided and threatened the scouts, con-
tending that there was no other soldiers
IN that locality. The scouts then rode
back and informed Gen. Sulby of their
discovery. The whole force was then
ordered forward and instructed to
divide as soon as the Indians were in
sight. One regiment was to 90 to the
South and the remainder of the force to
go to the North, so as to surround the
Sioux. The plan worked successfully
and the Indians were wholly surround
ed before they had time either to break
camp or prepaIe for the battle. They
set up a dismal howl and few of them
came forward to parley in response to
Gen. Sulby's signal with the flag of
truce. The General demanded the
whole band to drop their arms and
surrender. 1t was an hour before sun
set, and the Indians cunningly kept up
the parley until dark. Towards sunset
the Nebraska troops, who had taken a
position across the hill which holds
the big stone, opened fire, in violation
to Gen. Sulby's orders, and poured
several VOlleys into the camp Of the
redskins. All the time majority of
the Indians were fixing their guns,
their design being to fight their way
out as soon as darkness came on. AT
sunset the battle became general, and
during greater part of the night the
scene resembled a pondemonium. The
engagement was the sharpest towards
the East where the Indians were trying
to cut their way through the lines. Tt
is said that soldiers, Indians and horses
were mixed up in indescribable confus-
ion for several hours. The fight was
without cessation until the early morn
ing hours, when the redskins had made
good their escape. Some $50 women,
children and old men were left in the
hands of the soldiers, and about 200
worriers lay dead on the CORY field
How many injured Indians dragged
themselves away, or how many dead
and wounded were carried off when
the lines were broken cannot be told
% of the U. S. soldiers lay dead where
the battle ragged the fercest. Some of
them had gone down In hand to hand
struggles with their desperate foemen:
Two or three more had received their
death wounds, but lived to be taken
from the battle ground The experience
of the night had been sufficient to
transform men into demons or maniacs,
and the spectical upon which the sun
rose on the morning of Sept. 4th, was
than the bravest man could behold
without emotion. The dead soldiers
were buried on an eminence North of
the big stone, from which the battle
derives its name, while the Indians
who had fallen were left upon the
ground. No capture of Importance
was made at that time, as the main body
of Indians fled while the soldiers were
resting. Com"
Yours Truly,
n. H. ROBINSON.